The Plains Bison
By: Alex Kaminsky
The Plains Bison facts-
The Plains Bison is a mammal that can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and can run up to 40 miles an hour. They have shaggy brown fur, a hump on their back, and a "beard," and small white horns on each side of their huge head. Their eyesight is not very good, but they have good hearing and vision. Females are smaller than males. To me, the Plains Bison is adorable!
Habitat.
The Plains Bison roam the North American plains, which is more than 180 million acres of land. The grassy land is long, broad, and flat.
Warm and Toasty.
The bison's winter coat is so dense, that if snow gets on the animal, it won't melt!
Food Habits.
During the winter, the bison can clear snow with its head and eat the grass and plains. Aside from grazing in the plains, the Plains Bison needs water everyday.
AWWWW!
A bison calf is a redish-brown color. Only the female bison rase the calfs. The calf is nutured until it is 8 months old, but it is considered fully independent when it reaches a year of age.
WWF is Helping the Bison!
The big Plain Bison has only a few predators including the grey wolf, the brown bear, the coyote, and worst of all… the human! A long while ago, the Plains Bison was almost extinct due to the fact that there is over hunting. Humans were slaughtering the Plains Bison for their meat. Also, with a growing community in North America, there was a need for more land so the bison were being killed for that reason. WWF is creating places where bison can survive in herds. WWF is also placing the animals in Yellowstone National Park. Now, with their help and more, the Bison is only a "near threatened species."